Thirty Specimens Were Identified at the
OMS Meeting on 11/25/13
--- Scroll Down to See Pictures ----

Click Here to See the Specimens Identified at Other OMS Meetings

2) Clavaria fragilis

Popular Name
Fairy Fingers

Several references say that Clavaria fragilis is edible, but unsubstantial (that is, too small to bother with)

Clavaria fragilis is a coral fungi that can be identified by its white spaghetti-like strands ^[2,3,4]

3) Fomitopsis pinicola

Also called
Red Banded Polypore

Fomitopsis pinicola conks are perennials that can grow for many years. Each year a new layer of tubes or pores grows on the bottom of the old pores. The age of conk can be determined by counting the number of tube layers. This is similar to counting tree rings and tells the age of the conk.

Fomitopsis pinicola has a tough, woody consistency. It has a varnished cap surface that is usually red to reddish brown with a white or yellow margin. Fomitopsis pinicola has a cream colored pore surface that does not bruise brown

The 'artist conk' (see below) is a similar perennial; however, the artist conk is usually not as dark as Fomitopsis pinicola. The artist conk pores bruise brown (that is why you can draw on them), as opposed to yellow-buff.

The artist conk also lacks a brightly colored marginal band, and it has brown rather than pale yellow spores.^[1,3,7]

4) Ganoderma applanatum

Also called
Artist Conk

The name Artist Conk comes from the fact that this conk can be used as a drawing medium for artists. When the surface is rubbed or scratched with a sharp implement, it changes from light to dark brown, producing visible lines and shading. That is, the pore surface bruises brown. An Artist Conk retains the bruising for years if the mushroom is picked and brought inside.

Artist Conks are perennials and they can continue to grow for many years forming multiple layers..

Artist conks can be identified by their unvarnished, furrowed and lumpy, brown-crusted cap surface and their white pore surface, which bruises brown, The flesh is brownish or cinnamon. ^[1,3,6]

5) Ganoderma tsugae

Also called:
Ganoderma oregonense
or Hemlock varnish shelf.

Ganoderma tsugae is a conk that grows on conifers, especially hemlocks.

It is non-poisonous but practically inedible due to its solid woody nature. Ganoderma tsugae is often used to make teas and other extracts can be made from its fruiting bodies.

Ganoderma tsugae is saprobic and it grows solitary or in overlapping clusters on living and dead conifer trunks and on stumps and logs.

It can be identified by its shiny reddish to brownish-orange varnish upper surface that has a white margin. The upper surface is concentrically furrowed and the surface becomes dull when coated by deposited spores.

The bottom surface i.e. the pore surface is whitish and it becomes brown with age or when bruised. ^[1,3,6,7]

6) Gymnopus

The Gymnopus genus contains about 300 species. The genus of this specimen was not identified.

The cap of Gymnopus is generally convex or plano-convex or slightly concave. The cap is dry or slightly viscid and radially fibrillose.

They often grow in clumps.

The spore print is white.^[1,3,4]

7) Hydnum repandum
Common Name: Hedgehog and sweet tooth

Hydnum repandum is an edible mushroom that is said to have no poisonous lookalikes. Thus it is safe for beginners to pick.

It has spines instead of gills. The spines hang down from the underside of the cap and resemble teeth.

The cap is dry and colored pale orange to tan. Sometimes the cap is yellow to light orange to brown. The cap often has an irregular shape.

The spore print is white ^[1,2,6,7]

8) Hypomyces lactifluorum
Common Name: Lobster

Lobsters are edible.

Lobsters generally begin as Russula brevipes then they are attacked by a parasitic ascomycete and turned from white to orange. Some lobster mushrooms begin as Lactarius and are attacked by the parasite. The parasite even transforms the shape of the host mushroom, twisting it into odd contortions.

Lobsters have a seafood-like flavor and a firm, dense texture. According to Wikipedia they may taste somewhat spicy if the host mushroom is an acrid Lactarius.^[2,3,5,7]

9) Inocybe

The genus has hundreds of different species. The species of this mushroom was not identified.

Inocybe are generally various shades of brown. The caps are small and conical but they flatten with age. They almost always have pronounced raised central knob. The cap is generally fibrous or frayed and thus the common name for the genus , that is, "fiber caps".^[1,3,5]

10) Inocybe albodisca

Some references indicate that Inocybe albodisca is poisonous or at least suspect.

Inocybe albodisca is a small Inocybe that can be identified by its tan color with a whitish center. The cap is generally silky-fibrillose.

It has a very powerful fishy odor.^[1,3,5,6]

11) Laccaria

The Laccaris genus has about 75 species. The species of this specimen was not identified.

Laccaria typically have thick, widely spaced, purple to flesh-colored gills that are adnate to slightly decurrent. The spores are white and ornamented in most species. (from Wikipedia)

The gills of Laccaria are generally thick and a little waxy. They are usually purple, pinkish, or flesh-colored. The cap colors range from whitish to, more commonly, orangish brown or reddish brown--while a few species are purple. Laccarias are never slimy, which helps in separating them from the waxy caps. (from MushroomExpert.com)

12) Laccaria amethysteo-occidentalis
common name: Amethyst Deceiver

Laccaria amethystina is a small brightly colored, edible mushroom. Because its bright amethyst coloration fades with age and weathering, it becomes difficult to identify, hence the common name 'Deceiver'. This common name is shared with its close relation Laccaria laccata that also fades and weathers. (from Wikipedia)

Laccaria amethysteo-occidentalis can be identified by its deep purple cap, thick purple gills, and its long, shaggy to grooved stem. It has a white spore print, which helps to separate it from some Cortinarius species that are superficially similar. (from Mushroom Expert.com)

13) Lactarius

Lactarius are commonly called "milk-caps" because they exude a milky fluid if cut or damages. The flesh is very brittle.

There are about 400 species of Lactarius. The species of this specimen was not identified.^[1,3,5,6]

see another species below

14) Lactarius
Common Name: milky cap

There are about 400 species in the Lactarius genus. The species of this specimen was not identified.

The identifying feature of the Lactarius genus is that Lactarius mushroom exude a milky, latex like, fluid when cut or bruised. Identifying features of Lactarius is that the gills are decurrent or at least slightly decurrent and the cap is depressed or even funnel-shaped. The color of the mild differs amount the various species. Sometimes the milk is white, other times cream or orange, and other times it is red. ^[2,3,5,7]

15) Lactarius rubidus
Common Name: Candy Cap

Lactarius rubidus are edible and choice. They have a sweet taste thus the name Candy Cap. An identifying feature of Lactarius rubidus is its odor. It smells like maple syrup or burned sugar. The odor becomes stronger when the mushroom is dried The cap is convex; however, it sometimes becomes flat or shallowly vase-shaped. The cap is somewhat wrinkled or uneven. The cap color is reddish brown to orangish brown.

The gills are attached to the stem or slightly decurrent. The gill color is very pale orange and they do not stain from the milk.^[1,4,5,7]

16) Lyophyllum

The Lyophyllum genus includes about 40 species
The species of this specimen was not identified.

The species in the genus Lyophyllum are generally identified by microscopic features.

Lyophyllum decastes is one of the better know species in the Lyophyllum genus.^[1,7]

<17)Mycena

Mycena is a large genus of small saprotrophic mushrooms. Mycena are small mushrooms that are rarely more than a few centimeters in width.

Mycena are characterized by a white spore print, a small conical or bell-shaped cap, and a thin fragile stem. Most are gray or brown, but a few species have brighter colors.

Most Mycena have a translucent and striate cap, which rarely has an incurved margin. The gills are attached and usually have cystidia.

Interestingly, some species, like Mycena haematopus, exude a latex when the stem is broken, and many have the odor of bleach. (from Wikipedia)

18) Panellus serotinus

Panellus serotinus is an edible mushroom.

The Panellusgenus has about 55 species. Panellus are small to medium sized, and they grow on wood. They have gills and usually have semicircular or kidney-shaped caps.

An interesting feature of Panellus serotinus is that it always fruits only after the first frosts of the season. Although edible, it is quite tough and it should be cooked a long time over low heat.^[3,5,7]

19) Pholiota

The Pholiota genus has about 150 species.

he genus Pholiotas have a glutinous cap surface. They grow on wood.

A spore print of Pholiota is brown. These spores are smooth with a germ pore.

20) Polyporus badius

Polyporus badius is also sometimes called Royoporus badius or black-footed polypore or black-leg.

Polyporus badius is a polypore that is usually found in the fall on decaying hardwood logs.

An identifying feature is the black stem.^[1,2,3,6]

21) Pseudohydnum gelatinosum

Pseudohydnum gelatinosum is also called toothed jelly fungus, false hedgehog mushroom, and white jelly mushroom. These names come from the fact that the flesh of Pseudohydnum gelatinosum is translucent and gelatinous.

Pseudohydnum gelatinosum are edible and some people even find them to be choice.

They grow on wood or wood debris of conifers. They are saprophobic or maybe parasitic. Pseudohydnum gelatinosum grow in overlapping clusters in late summer and fall.^[1,3,5,7]

22) Ramaria

Ramaria is a genus of coral fungi. There are about 200 different species of Ramaria. The species of this specimen was not identified.

Some species of Ramaria are edible, others are at least mildly poisonous.

Ramaria have branching stems and they have yellowish spores.^[1,7]

23) Russula brevipes

Russula brevipes is also known as the short stemmed russula. It is a edible by not choice. However, if a Russula brevipes is attacked by parasitic ascomycete it is turned from white to orange. The resulting mushroom is called a Hypomyces lactifluorum (or Lobster) and it is them a very desirable edible. The cap of a Russula brevipes is whitish to dull-yellow in color, and is funnel-shaped with a central depression. The gills are decurrent, narrow and thin. The gills are sometimes forked near the stipe. The stipe is white with yellowish-brownish discolorations in age.

The spore print is white to light cream in color.^[1,3,7]

24)Russula cascadensis

Russula cascadensis is similar in appearance to the Russula brevipes. However, the taste is "hotter" than Russula brevipes.

Another key difference is that Russula cascadensis has small dacriformn spores.

Russula cascadensis is edible but not choice.

Russula cascadensis grows under conifers.^[1,7]

25) Scleroderma

Scleroderma are sometimes called "earthballs"

They are a thick skinned puffball that has a blackish interior.

The genus Scleroderma has two dozen species. The species can only be separated on the basis of microscopic analysis of their spores

An interesting fact is that an odd little Boletus called Boletus parasiticus grows on and parasitizes this puffball.^[1,3,5,6,7]

26) Sparassis crispa

Sparassis crispa is also called the cauliflower mushroom and the noodle mushroom. It is a choice edible mushroom.

It is a parasite that grows on conifer roots. It is a good parasite in that it allows the conifer to live a long life. Sparassis crispa often grows and fruits, year after year, on the same tree.

The lobes of Sparassis crispa are flat and curly. They resemble lasagna noodles. They are colored white to creamy yellow.^[1,3,5]

27) Tricholoma

The genus Tricholoma has about 100 species. The species of this specimen was not identified Tricholomas are gilled mushrooms with fleshy stems, and gills that are adnate or notch. The spore print is with white.^[1]

28) Tricholoma focale

This was previously called Armillaria zelleri.

It is said to be edible but worthless.

Tricholoma focale can be identified by orange brown colors, its cottony collapsing ring, and its mealy odor. The gills are white, adnexed to free and moderately distant.[3,8]

29) Tricholoma magnivelare

Common Name: Matsutake

You will know a Matsutake by its smell.

Matsutake are prized by the Japanese and Chinese because of its distinct spicy-aromatic odor. In Japan Matsutake are given as very special gifts. Giving two specially wrapped Matsutake in a beatiful package is a gift like no other. Matsutake are cultural icon in Japan and they are a symbol of autumn and longevity.

Matsutake can be identified by their smell, color and prominent partial veil. The partial veil covers the gills (when young) and later forms a sheath like covering on the lower stem. The the upper edge of the veil flares outward to form a ring.

The gills are crowded and adnate or notched.

The spore print is white.[1,3,7,9]

30) Tubaria furfuracea

Tubaria furfuracea is not edible and it may be poisonous.

The cap convex or centrally depressed. The cap color is cinnamon to tan and the cap is striate from margin inwards and slightly scurfy.

The gills are broad, distant, and adnate to slightly decurrent.[1,5]